Fawkner, last year’s Caulfield Cup winner, got a perfect ride from jockey Nick Hall who settler him just off the pace and sitting in fourth coming into the home turn. With 150m left Fawkner pushed clear but was challenged by an impressive Criterion who tried to run the 8-year-old grey gelding down on the line.

Two lengths away in third was Side Glance who held the lead into the home straight.

“The horse is flying,” part owner Nick Williams said about Fawkner after the race.

“Hoping he can win that elusive Cox Plate in a fortnight’s time.”

“He has taken the next step from being a handicapper to up to being a genuine weight for age horse and it is really exciting to have one of them in your stable.”